Chapter 16

The sound of eggs cooking on the stovetop was heard, and smells of miso soup, freshly steamed rice, and seared fish from Hikari's recent fishing trip lingered in the kitchen ready to feed the family of four for breakfast.

"D-Dad?" Mina's eyes widened as she saw her father wearing a cooking apron over his military uniform. "You can cook?!"

The father took the egg dish from the pan serving it neatly and traditionally on a serving plate to bring to the table. The father glanced at his daughter as she came over and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek after he turned to heat off the stove top. "Take a serving," responded Kunzite as he quickly washed the skillet.

Most mornings, Minako would make breakfast in a western-style manner of eggs, bacon, cereal, muffins, and other bread-like dishes, as she grew up her childhood and early-teen years in Great Britain. However, on mornings where the mother was having an unusually challenging time waking up, Kunzite would quietly take on the task of making a traditional Japanese breakfast usually consisting of a simple egg dish, steamed or pickled vegetables, a simple rice dish, fish or tofu, and a brothy soup. This was the first time his children woke up early enough to realize he was the main creator of the traditional Japanese Breakfast for the family.

Mina pulled aside her servings and smiled brightly, "Dad, when did you start cooking?"

Kunzite paused as he prepared his meal. He glanced to his daughter at her question and remained silent, not intentionally. His brain was still half-asleep to register so many comments or questions in the morning.

"This is amazing! Did you learn how to cook from a chef?" asked his daughter cheerfully as she tasted the eggs. "I really like this! Could you teach me how to make it? I always burn my eggs."

Kunzite finally sat down the last two servings of dishes before returning to his normal dining spot at the end of the table.

"Oh! Dad, is mom up? I had a question to ask her. I need some advice. One of my friends started acting a bit strange a few days ago, and I'm having a hard time being their friend. I need advice." Mina looked a little perplexed as she picked at her vegetables seeming upset before sighing, "I know, it's too early to ask, but Jade has been my friend since I could remember! I don't know what happened or why he's starting to not talk to me like he use to. Did I say something wrong? Did I offend him?"

Kunzite watched as Mina poured him a cup of tea for both him and herself. He barely registered what she was asking. He had no idea how to respond! Why was his daughter trying to solve her own social problems at the breakfast table? Was she really that concerned that Jade was too flustered to speak with her because he wanted to be with her romantically?

Mina pouted, "Maybe I should just spend more time with the girls until he figures out what he wants. But he is one of my best friends, and I don't want to just abandon him! Maybe I should just wait and see what happens. Maybe something happened at his basic training or at school. Maybe things will be better in a few days."

Kunzite quietly sipped on the freshly brewed tea allowing its fragrance to engulf him. His mind was still foggy from waking but slowly clearing up. Mentally he was trying to figure her out. Was his daughter wanting advice? Was she wanting him to fix the situation and tell her that her best friend was trying to find a way to tell her that he loves her? Or was she just venting her frustrations and just needed someone to listen to, just like her mother did from time to time.

He still hadn't determined that as the young girl changed subjects on him.

"Dad! Senshi training has gotten more rigorous! I'm really excited we have gone beyond the basics of self-defense and are now starting to learn offensive moves! Can we practice some day? I would love to show you what Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune have taught us! OH!"

Kunzite was startled at the excited exclamation as his daughter became even brighter, "Dad! I am so excited! Chibi Usa is going to have a birthday celebration and decided to have a dance! I know some of our friends going have already started shopping for their dress. Dad, mom said she would go with me to try on some dresses, but I kind of wanted you to go with me. I heard there was a father-daughter dance being planned, and I want to dance with you! I want my outfit to compliment whatever you have to wear. I didn't what you might wear that evening. Could we match?"

On a normal circumstance, these questions would be easily questioned and given a simple response, but it was still before seven-thirty in the morning. He was trying to get past the prior question about his daughter being upset by Jade.

"Oh Dad! Silly me, mom told me to not ask too many questions in the morning. I'm sorry daddy! I'm just so excited that I can dance with you, my most favorite person in the whole wide world!" smiled Mina brightly. He noticed she piled up her empty dishes. Since when did she eat her food?! She placed them in the sink and walked over to her father kissing him on the cheek again, "Thank you for the talk, daddy. I love you so much!"

Before she released the hug, Mina heard her dad speak, "I love you too, sweetheart."

He saw her smile brighten even more before she skipped out of the kitchen starting her day.

Kunzite sat in his chair just barely touching his fish and rice. He pinched the bridge of his nose. How on earth did his daughter have so much energy in the morning was beyond him. How could she produce so many words before eight in the morning?

He reflected on everything she spoke before a small smile crossed his lip. She told him that she loved him. He would hold onto that to help get him through his upcoming busy day at the palace.

He heard the door open to the side watching his wife Minako yawning and entering the room. His bride finally arrived. "Good Morning, Husband," smiled Minako. She gave him a quick kiss on the lips before picking up her food. "Oh, I love it when you make food like this. It's so delicious! Are you sure you weren't a chef in your past life?"

He smirked as she sat down with her servings of food. She quickly poured herself a cup of tea and sat down to enjoy the morning with her love. "You know my past, Minako."

"I know, I know!" she spoke with a sigh, "If only I knew you had this talent before, I would have seriously considered asking you to make every meal we ate. I just can't get enough of your cooking!"

He watched as she sipped the tea with her blushing cheeks and bright pink lips. If their children weren't here, he would have taken advantage of this moment without fear of someone walking in on them in the kitchen, just like in the years prior to children and after his elder sons grew and left the home. When would he be alone with his wife again? Then again, he did rather enjoy his daughter being here brightening up his morning, even though she had a million and one questions to present him in the morning.

Taking a bite of the fish, Kunzite noticed his wife's face start to turn a little green before she made an effort to swallow the fish and pause her eating. She glanced to her husband who stared back at her.

"Does the fish taste spoilt to you?" she asked him.

He shook his head negative. He pulled out this fish from the freezer. Any remaining fish fillets were placed in their freezer to preserve the freshness from that day's catch. "It tastes normal to me."

Minako gave a perplexed look before her eyes widened in a silent realization, "Oh no…"

Oh no? He picked up the ceramic soup spoon giving his wife a questioning look. "What's wrong?"

She gave a small laugh and waved her hand, "It's probably just food poisoning then. Don't worry about it. It should pass in a day or so."

Kunzite placed his spoon down starting at his wife, "You said, 'Oh No.' That indicates to me there is something wrong. What were you thinking it was?"

She shrugged, "Its almost reminds me… it's silly." She shook her head sipping the tea letting it help settle her stomach.

"What's silly?" asked her husband genuinely concerned about her well-being.

She smiled, "It almost feels like morning sickness from pregnancy."

"Mom's pregnant?!"

Both adults turned their head to see Hikari stare at his mother with wide eyes, "Am I going to become an older brother again?" A door flying open behind the teen male was noticed, and Mina was seen rushing back into the room with widened eyes, "NO WAY! Mom! Are you serious?! Am I going to be an older sister?!"

It took nearly an hour after having returned to the office in the palace to realize everything that was happening. He rubbed his face and stared at his desk for a good-long while before he opened his ink-pen and began signing documents on his desk.